TRAVEL INSIDER.

Bereavement fares help in difficult times

Airlines, Amtrak offer reductions, but you'll need documentation

December 08, 2002|By Alfred Borcover. Special to the Tribune.

When that awful call comes--a family member has died--it's only natural to fall apart, to be stunned. You know you've got to get home. Quickly. If you must fly, most airlines, through their reservations numbers, can help you get a special discounted fare without the usual restrictions.

Airlines--and Amtrak, too--offer what they call bereavement and compassion fares--discounts that vary from airline to airline and market to market. Airlines make bereavement fares available to immediate family members in the case of a death. Compassion fares also are available to immediate family members in cases of serious illness or imminent death. Both have specific requirements, and carriers have their own policies as to whom is considered immediate family.

When you call for a bereavement fare, be prepared to provide the carrier with the following:

- The name of the deceased, your relationship to him or her, the name of the funeral home, funeral director and phone number. Some may ask for a copy of an obituary or even a death certificate.

In the case of a compassion fare for a medical emergency, you'll need:

- The name of the person who is ill, your relationship to the person, the name and phone number of the hospital and of the attending physician.

In terms of these special fares, here's a sampling of policies offered by the carriers and their Web sites:

- American Airlines. The fares, generally calculated by taking 50 percent off the price of a full-fare, unrestricted Coach seat, pertain to travel within the 48 contiguous United States, Hawaii and Canada. There are no penalties for cancellations or changes, and tickets are fully refundable. Travel must originate within seven days of making the reservation. Eligible persons include spouses or domestic partners, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles and in-laws. American says it understands that every family situation is different and tries to be flexible. 800-433-7300; www.aa.com.

- American Trans Air. "Our basic fare structure is considerably lower for last-minute travel than many other carriers, so we don't offer actual bereavement fares," a spokeswoman said. ATA will waive its $50 fee to change a ticket in bereavement cases for the person directly affected and one designated companion, but the passenger needs to have an obituary or death certificate as proof. 800-225-2995; www.ata.com.

- Continental Airlines. "We offer the customer either the lowest fare that would apply in the market or the bereavement fare (50 percent off the full-fare, unrestricted Coach price), and give the customer the opportunity to choose," a spokesman said. "We will be flexible with the return ticket." 800-231-0856; www.continental.com.

- Delta Air Lines. For bereavement fare pricing, the customer must call Delta reservations. Fares are not available on the Web site. Delta defines immediate family as spouse, child, parent, sister, brother, stepparent, stepchild, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, stepbrother, stepsister, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Documentation required includes the relationship to passenger, name and phone number of funeral home, hospital or hospice and the name of doctor (if applicable). Customer must fill out an emergency travel relationship form before a ticket can be issued. 800-221-1212; www.delta.com.

- Southwest Airlines. "We have the philosophy to have our employees do the right thing so we don't have a bereavement fare per se. So if there's an extenuating circumstance, our employees have the freedom to make the right decision. We're always willing to work with the customer," a spokeswoman said. The highest fare you'll ever pay on Southwest is $299 one way, she noted. 800-435-9792; www.southwest.com.